Teacher transfer quota sparks political storm in Odisha

The new school teacher transfer quota policy has triggered controversy across political lines. With only 15 transfers allowed per MLA, legislators face mounting pressure from teachers, while opposition BJD alleges favoritism and the party leaders call for the policy’s rollback.

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Odisha government’s decision to cap teacher transfer recommendations at 15 per MLA has stirred widespread political and administrative unrest. Lawmakers across party lines—both ruling and opposition—are facing the heat from teachers demanding relocation, while questions over transparency and fairness dominate the debate.

Opposition MLAs refuse to use quota

BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera has formally urged School and Mass Education (S&ME) Minister Nityananda Gond to withdraw the transfer quota policy, citing overwhelming demand from teachers within his district. He revealed that teachers are lining up outside local MLAs' residences, creating pressure and confusion over whom to prioritise in the limited quota.

Opposition Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati went a step further, calling the decision “unjust and politically dangerous.” He warned that using the 15-teacher quota may do more harm than good, saying he will not exercise his quota to “avoid turning teachers into political enemies.”

Adding to the fire, Congress leaders accused the State government of favouring BJP leaders through “invisible recommendations,” alleging that transfers in Opposition-dominated areas are being restricted while quietly enabling requests in BJP-influenced areas.

Meanwhile, the Odisha school teachers’ association has also stepped in, criticising the policy and calling for a formal discussion with the State government. They are pushing for the MLA quota to be expanded and for the right to recommend transfers beyond district boundaries.

School teachers, on their part, empathise with MLAs’ helplessness but insist the system must change. They propose a rational transfer policy that divides the State into urban, semi-urban, rural, and remote clusters, allowing teachers to serve in each area for five years before transfer eligibility.

Despite the backlash, S&ME Minister Nityananda Gond defended the decision, asserting that recommendations should be made strictly on the basis of rationalisation, not political convenience. “If some MLAs feel the pressure is too much, perhaps they should reconsider politics altogether,” he quipped.

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As debate intensifies, all eyes are on whether the government will tweak the current system or stick to its guns—potentially turning the issue into a political litmus test in the months ahead.